# Very special episodes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 4, 2007, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715 "2007-01-04T18:40:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715/1 "2007-01-04T18:40:24Z")
You’ve all seen the promos: > [@](#): > > Tonight on _Futurama_, Bender discovers the true meaning of Christmas. This is the episode you just can’t miss! Or > [@](#): > > Next week on _ER_, a time of crisis brings out both the best and the worst in the hospital staff. This is the episode everyone will be talking about! It seems like every other week TV shows have “very special”, “heartwarming”, “unforgettable”, or “touching” episodes. Personally, I’m sick to death of the touching reunions, poignant moments and must-see promos. However, some people out there may love them. Does anyone remember a “very special” episode of a TV show that they especially liked? Or even one that they really thought sucked cumquats? Enquiring minds want to know. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715/2 "2007-01-04T19:30:46Z")
No, but I do remember one of my favorite quotes from college writing classes. My instructor was talking about the “moment of shit”, that point when a “very special episode” pays off in an “awww…group hug…” moment. Let’s see if my google-fu can come up with the goods…ah, here it is: > [@](#): > > Television writers have a cynical technical term for the point in the script when Cosby’s Cliff Huxtable speechifIes about coming to grips with his son’s dyslexia, when the swingle fathers on My Two Dads discuss the very important lesson they’ve learned about role modeling, when Doogie Howser concocts the wistful moral to wrap up every episode. It is what they call the Moment of Shit. "The Moment of Shit,’ explains Earl Pomeranrz, who writes Major Dad and has written for The Cosby Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Taxi, “is when it’s time to get serious and say, Don’t do that to your dog,’ or ‘Lying is wrong.’ They have a lesson to teach near the end of the show.” At Major Dad, Pomerantz says, “we try to spread the shit around, so it’s not located in one place.” The Moment of Shit, adds Diane English, creator of Murphy Brown, is “where you start to hear the violins play.” The device is more than just a permissible shortcut for hacks to wrap up a script; it is a way to reduce ambiguous and complicated ideas to uncontroversial ideals (Reading is important! The rain forests must be saved! The homeless are people, too!). [http://www.kurtandersen.com/journalism/various/rollstone051790hotmood.html](http://www.kurtandersen.com/journalism/various/rollstone051790hotmood.html) Probably one of my favorite trade terms, ever. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715/3 "2007-01-04T19:41:40Z")
“Angel” had a very, very strange episode that seemed to be an allegory for female genital mutilation. I can’t recall the details, but there were these women from another dimension with these thingamajigs on the back of their necks which, when removed, would destroy their intelligence and sex drives, and the patriarchal society on their homeworld insisted that all women submit to the procedure. Yah, it was about as bad as it sounds. Probably the very worst thing Joss Whedon has ever done, actually. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715/4 "2007-01-04T19:51:03Z")
It doesn’t quite qualify as a VSE because it’s too well done for that disparaging term, but the episode of Designing Women “Killing All the Right People.” Written by Diane Tomlinson following the death of her mother from AIDS, one ofthe first network shows dealing with the topic. A young gay friend of the firm approaches the women to design a room for his funeral. Very strong scene from Julia advising a bigoted “friend” that if STDs were the punishment for sin then she, the friend, would be at the free clinic all the time, and a terrific speech from Mary Jo defending condom use among teenagers. I still tear up every time I see it. A definite VSE from DW is IIRC called “They Shoot Fat People, Don’t They?” which Tomlinson wrote after Delta Burke put on the weight and there was some tension on the set as a result. Suzanne is heartbroken about being called fat behind her back at her high school reunion, until she meets a boy from Ethiopia who lost his entire family to starvation and she speechifies about the absurdity of being upset about having too much to eat. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715/5 "2007-01-04T19:59:41Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Excellent] “Angel” had a very, very strange episode that seemed to be an allegory for female genital mutilation. I can’t recall the details, but there were these women from another dimension with these thingamajigs on the back of their necks which, when removed, would destroy their intelligence and sex drives, and the patriarchal society on their homeworld insisted that all women submit to the procedure. Yah, it was about as bad as it sounds. Probably the very worst thing Joss Whedon has ever done, actually. [/QUOTE] And believe it or not, Whedon & co. intended for the main otherdimensional babe to be a major recurring character and possible love interest for Angel. Sometimes first-year major storyline alterations can be a good thing! IMO, the truly brilliant element of ‘Buffy’ and ‘Angel’ was to write ‘very special episodes’ that did NOT condescend to the audience, or provide an easy trite moral, or wrap these up conveniently. My personal favorite was the one with the goth cult of kids who wanted to become vampires. Dunno the name of the ep, but Buffy’s ex-boyfriend from her previous school comes to Sunnydale, confesses that he knows she’s a slayer and claims to want to help fight vampires. Instead, he arranges with Spike to lure Buffy into a trap in exchange for ‘siring’ him. Buffy later learns that her ex was actually dying of a brain tumor and desperate to stay alive in any state. The end of the ep. has Buffy staking her vamped-ex, Giles giving her fake assurances that ‘the good guys are always good, the bad guys always bad, and they are easily distinguishable by the colors of the cowboy hats they wear’ and Buffy muttering ‘liar’ to him. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715/6 "2007-01-04T19:59:44Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Excellent] Probably the very worst thing Joss Whedon has ever done, actually. [/QUOTE] No, that distinction goes to “I Fall To Pieces.” ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715/7 "2007-01-04T20:32:31Z")
> [@](#): > > IMO, the truly brilliant element of ‘Buffy’ and ‘Angel’ was to write ‘very special episodes’ that did NOT condescend to the audience, or provide an easy trite moral, or wrap these up conveniently. Yes, I think “The Body” was a VSE that sidestepped or outright contradicted all the VSE cliches in dealing with the death of a character. (For contrast, see _Family Ties_, when Alex’s never-seen-before friend dies in a car accident. Alex is swamped with grief and remorse, until the next episode when everything is back to normal and dead guy is never mentioned again.) Another good “death” episode on a show was _Sesame Street_’s treatment of Mr. Hooper’s death. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715/8 "2007-01-04T20:45:32Z")
> [@](#): > > Does anyone remember a “very special” episode of a TV show that they especially liked? Or even one that they really thought sucked cumquats? Enquiring minds want to know. I always thought that _The Cosby Show_ “jumped the shark” when there was a Very Special Episode featuring Danny Kaye as a dentist. He was so freakin’ creepy that I never got over it - notwithstanding the fact that it was _prime-time **NBC** _ (the worst of the eighties-moralizers) I was like “don’t leave poor Rudy alone with that guy!” ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715/9 "2007-01-04T21:05:30Z")
The guys at WKRP dealing with the aftermath of an infamous Who concert at Riverfront Stadium. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715/10 "2007-01-04T21:07:51Z")
Er, Riverfront Coliseum. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715/11 "2007-01-04T21:12:52Z")
I know that they still do this with dramas, but I am so, so, so glad that it went out of fashion with sitcoms. The 70s and 80s were full of “very special episodes” that made me want to gag. **Beadalin** brings up a great one from Family Ties. I remember that Growing Pains had a very similar one where the daughter’s never-before-seen boyfriend/love of her life was killed in a drunk driving accident or some such (character played by a young Matthew Perry). Not to mention the seemingly endless parade of handicapped folks from shows like Diff’rent Strokes and Facts of Life, who were apparently put on earth to show us how gosh darn cheerful and life-affirming a person can be, no matter what the affliction (not that I necessarily disagree with the sentiment, but how damn glurgy could they be?) What was with the idea that nothing could ever just be funny? Thank God for Seinfeld…I believe the greatest thing he ever did for American pop culture is cure the sitcom of any need to be socially redeeming. Yadda yadda yadda. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715/12 "2007-01-04T21:27:54Z")
My favorite VSE of all time is still the [child molester](http://www.x-entertainment.com/messages/203.html) episode of Different Strokes. I wish I were making this up. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715/13 "2007-01-04T21:37:19Z")
Dude, **slortar** , I was going to bring up the Diff’rent Strokes child molester episode! It remains one of my clearest memories of 80’s TV shows, and not in a good way. At Christmas, my brother and I were discussing VSEs, and our youngest sister didn’t know what they were. My childhood was _filled_ with these very special episodes; it seemed like there was one every other week on Punky Brewster or Silver Spoons or something. Thank goodness they’ve mostly gone the way of the dodo, or at least gotten less obvious. Or maybe it’s just that I only watch things like _Doctor Who_ now. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715/14 "2007-01-04T21:52:23Z")
[QUOTE=Sarahfeena] I know that they still do this with dramas, but I am so, so, so glad that it went out of fashion with sitcoms. The 70s and 80s were full of “very special episodes” that made me want to gag. **Beadalin** brings up a great one from Family Ties. I remember that Growing Pains had a very similar one where the daughter’s never-before-seen boyfriend/love of her life was killed in a drunk driving accident or some such (character played by a young Matthew Perry). [/QUOTE] Imdb has Perry playing the role in three episodes. Personally, the only VSE I would be likely to tune in for is _The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy._ ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715/15 "2007-01-04T22:19:13Z")
[QUOTE=Lute Skywatcher] The guys at WKRP dealing with the aftermath of an infamous Who concert at Riverfront Stadium. [/QUOTE] That one’s a bit tricky, since it’s based on a real event and the staff of a Cincinnati rock-format radio station (who promotes concerts) _would_ be affected by it. It’s not any more “special” than a 9/11-centered episode on _Third Watch_. It would actually be pretty chickenshit to pretend these real-life events _didn’t_ happen. _e.r._ does seem to have these special episodes an awful lot, though, or (more accurately) they advertise each episode as special and unforgettable and heart-warming, blah blah yech blah. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715/16 "2007-01-04T23:19:35Z")
[QUOTE=erie774] Does anyone remember a “very special” episode of a TV show that they especially liked? [/QUOTE] Not a fictional show, but still a gutsy VSE that I feel qualifies… **Craig Ferguson** did a VSE of his late night talk show right after his own father died. He turned the entire show into an on-air wake and memorial, bringing out cherished friends and family, and just improvising and talking from the hip about his dad’s life. He ended with an amazing folk music performance. It was the most amazing talk show I’ve ever seen, and had me in genuine tears. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715/17 "2007-01-04T23:44:16Z")
I’ve always wondered if people generally gained anything from these types of shows. They certainly weren’t entertaining (well maybe one was), and I’ve never heard anyone say a VSE was a catalyst for positive change in their lives. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715/18 "2007-01-04T23:56:32Z")
[QUOTE=erie774] Does anyone remember a “very special” episode of a TV show that they especially liked? [/QUOTE] Drew Carey had a good one for the 5th season finale. [QUOTE=wikipedia] There was also the season 5 finale “A Very Special Drew”, in which the cast indulged in manipulative and syrupy melodrama in an attempt to get an Emmy nomination. [/QUOTE] The ultimate VSE of any series was still BtVS’ “The Body.” ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2007, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715/19 "2007-01-05T01:00:13Z")
The Best VSE was the Dinosaurs episode on drugs. It ended with Robbie saying “Kids, don’t do drugs, or we will be forced to do more very special episodes” Brian ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2007, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715/20 "2007-01-05T01:48:30Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Drew Carey had a good one for the 5th season finale. > [@Wikipedia](#): > > There was also the season 5 finale “A Very Special Drew”, in which the cast indulged in manipulative and syrupy melodrama in an attempt to get an Emmy nomination. [/QUOTE] That one was totally hilarious. Drawn Together had a pretty good satirical episode called “A Very Special Drawn Together After School Special.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-special-episodes/386715.md?page=2)